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Poland school board hires interim assistant principal
POLAND
The board of education Monday hired an interim assistant principal for the high school.
Edward Ashcroft, who has extensive school administrative experience from a long career at Warren schools, will work beginning next Tuesday under a 195-day contract. The district then will seek a permanent candidate for the position, which was vacated after Jeremy Gondol resigned to take another job. Ashcroft will make approximately $58,000, Superintendent David Janofa said.
In other business, the board authorized a $9,500 stipend be paid to Michael Masucci, principal at Union Elementary, to serve as supervisor and coordinator of the district’s preschool/after-school program housed at the former North Elementary building.
The board and Janofa noted that, contrary to rumors circulating in the community, there are no plans to shutter those programs. Janofa said the enrollment for both programs are up for this year compared with last year, and the district would like to further expand the programs.
The board heard a presentation from representatives of Nutrition Group, a company the district hired to administer food services under a six-month contract due to the resignation of the food services director.
Representatives of Nutrition Group outlined a number of goals for the next six months, including increasing participation in the school lunch program. They noted only 30 percent of Poland students buy their lunches, compared with a national average of 56 percent. One effort to close that gap will be to expand menu options. For example, a new made-to-order deli bar will be put in place at the high school and middle school.
Also, the district will increase its focus on homemade-style meals and offer hot breakfasts to elementary students, they said.
During public comment, the board heard from Judy Young, a retired physical education/health teacher who is part of a community group that wants to raise money for improvements at the North building’s playground.
Community Friends to Save the North Elementary Playground is working with Janofa to devise a plan for the playground. The group is hoping to get board approval soon.
District officials also recognized the Poland team that recently won the Junior League World Softball Series. The board recognized team members Brooke Bobbey, Connie Cougras, Lexi Diaz, Julia Eich, Abby Farber, Jackie Grisdale, KaiLi Gross, Camryn Lattanzio, Jordyn Olson and Maddy Rinehart, as well as manager Matt Bobbey, assistant manager Andrew Lattanzio and coaches Kim Grisdale, Kevin Diaz, Keith Farber and Eric Gross.